Two Way Star Pruitt Named To PSAL All-Star Team

By Elio Velez

The last game of Far Rockaway senior linebacker Jeremy Pruitt’s career was a 34-6 trouncing by Brooklyn Tech in the second round of the PSAL Bowl playoffs. As disappointing as it was to be bounced one game short of a title game, last week’s announcement by should be soothe those feelings a bit.

The PSAL announced that the double threat at runningback and linebacker was selected to the all-city team. The Daily News also named Pruitt recently to their All-Queens team.

After the notable omission of WR/KR James Romain from the PSAL All-City team in 2005, Pruitt, a senior, is the first Far Rockaway player to be named in many years according to head coach Anthony Miele.

“He had the most votes at outside linebacker. There were only two linebackers chosen throughout the city and he is one of them, Miele said.

“I don’t remember the first time that a kid from this school made the all-city team from here.

He was good. If you put him on any team like Lehman, (who made the city championship) he can be good.

Miele said that Pruitt’s performance in their loss to Brooklyn Tech, which included two interceptions, a forced fumble and return for a touchdown, was the game that influenced the PSAL selection committee.

“He was the heart and soul. We had a young team but we had 8 wins.”

The PSAL All-Queens team will have plenty of Seahorses on the list. Pruitt will be joined by six of his teammates on the list; Senior RB/LB Karl Allwood, S/WR Ednut Egberongbe, OT/DT Shaun Wheeler, RB/CB Daniel Samuels, WR/PR/KR Steven Flake and QB Balkar Singh.

“It’s so unbelievable that we had seven kids make all city or all-queens. Did we go as far as we could? Sure we could. It’s hard to finish the season with the half we did. It should not have been 34-6.

It should have been closer if we played like we did in the first half, Miele said.

In his three seasons on the varsity, the 6 foot 2, 220 pound player as his best statistical year in 2005. On offense, Pruitt rushed for 711 yards, scored four touchdowns and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. At starting linebacker, he sacked the quarterback an impressive 18 times, recorded 107 tackles and two interceptions.

Pruitt says he is looking to attend prep school such as Mercersburg Academy, where good friend and former Bayside star Vinny Rey played football this past season. His other option is Hudson valley Community College, where a number of his former teammates including Romain, Chris Howard, Ricardo Remy and Lawrence Whitehead currently attend.